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For some additional insight, we turn to CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen. He’s here in Washington. And also Nail al-Jubeir. He’s director of information for the embassy of Saudi Arabia here in Washington, as well. Nail, let me begin with you. You obviously speak Arabic. Have you heard this tape? NAIL AL-JUBEIR, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION, […]

Let’s talk about all this now with CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen. He is in Washington this morning.Peter, first your take of the significance of this particular — or this latest bin Laden tape? PETER BERGEN, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Well, three things. This is the fastest turnaround that I can call from any bin Laden […]

Is Al Qaeda capable of carrying out another Sept. 11 attack in the United States?

The terrorist organization doesn’t appear to have sleeper cells in the country able to perform such a mission, or even capable of launching a smaller-scale operation against a “soft” target such as a mall. If Al Qaeda had this capability, its cells would have attacked either at the beginning of the Iraq war in spring 2003 or during the recent presidential election. Almost without exception, the “terrorism” cases in this country since 9/11 have involved wannabes and malcontents accused of “material support” for terrorism, not planners of terrorist acts. Moreover, to its enormous credit, the Muslim American community since 9/11 has rejected Osama bin Laden’s ideas.

Welcome back to “LATE EDITION.” Terrorism fears are running strong with the ongoing violence in Iraq and Osama bin Laden still very much on the loose. Joining us now to help sort out where the war on terror stands, four guests: Michael Scheuer, he’s a former high-ranking CIA analyst, also the author of the best-selling […]

Europe seems increasingly likely to be the target of the next major Qaeda attack, a trend that could intensify when scores of Qaeda-affiliated militants who left European countries to fight in Iraq return home, several top terror analysts said.

Europe is vulnerable in ways that the United States is not, said many of those attending what was described as the largest conference ever on Al Qaeda, the group behind the Sept. 11 attacks.

Peter Bergen*
Fellow, New America Foundation; terrorism analyst, CNN
and author, Holy War Inc.: Inside the Secret World of Osama bin Laden

Bruce Hoffman*
Vice President, External Affairs, RAND Corporation; author Inside Terrorism

The best of the recent slew of books on terrorism, as chosen by one of the few Western journalists ever to interview Osama bin Laden.

It may have been a very mixed year for America’s progress in the war on terror, but it was a very good year for book buyers trying to understand the evolution of al Qaeda, the Bush administration’s conduct of the war on terrorism, and the future direction of jihadist terrorism.

BLITZER: Osama bin Laden’s surprise videotaped message to America is raising several questions, among them his whereabouts, whether he’s planning more terrorist attacks, and if he’s trying to influence the U.S. presidential election. For some answers we turn to two guests who have both met with the al Qaeda leader in recent years. In Los […]

Since the 9/11 attacks bin Laden and his chief deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, have released more than two dozen audio and videotapes, an astounding average of one tape every six weeks. Tracing back the chain of custody of these tapes is the one guaranteed method of finding the location of al Qaeda’s leaders. However, despite the […]

The Battle of Tora Bora: What Really Happened?

The question of whether the United Sates missed an opportunity to capture or kill Osama bin Laden during the battle of Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan in December 2001 has become an issue in the razor-close campaign. During the October 8th presidential debate, Sen. John Kerry said of capturing bin Laden, “The right time was Tora Bora, when we had him cornered in the mountains.” Writing in the New York Times this week, General Tommy Franks, a Bush supporter, and the overall commander of the Tora Bora operation, said that this charge “doesn’t square with reality”. Franks also stated, “We don’t know to this day whether Mr. bin Laden was at Tora Bora,” and that the US did not “outsource” the battle to Afghan warlords of questionable competence and loyalty, as Sen. Kerry has repeatedly charged. At a town hall meeting in Ohio on Tuesday, vice president Cheney said Kerry’s criticisms of the Tora Bora campaign are “absolute garbage.”